Tribals in Indian English Novel (Hardbound - 2008)

Although rural life has been dealt with in a number of Indian English novels, tribals as such have rarely been depicted in them. This fact testifies to the conspiracy of silence against a large chunk of society that is doomed to remain marginalized and lead life in its periphery. The reasons for this silence are not far to seek in view of the urban and westernized background of Indian English writers and their preoccupation with urban life and its problems. However, the references to tribal life are sporadically mentioned in Arun Joshi’s The Strange Case of Billy Biswas, Kamala Markandaya’s The Coffer Dam, Manohar Malgaonkar’s The Princes, Gita Mehta’s A River Sutra and Kiran Desai’s The Inheritance of Loss. This book is a humble attempt to highlight these references.

The book seeks to bring out the similarity between the primitive life as portrayed by the Indian English novelists and as lived by the tribals in the remote rural areas of India. It also brings to light the tribal beliefs and practices, customs and traditions, rites and rituals, feasts and festivals, apparel and adornment, songs and dance as presented in Indian English novel.

It is hoped that the students, researchers and even teachers of Indian English literature will find this book interesting and a valuable reference source.

A.K. Chaturvedi obtained his Master’s Degree and Ph.D. in English Literature from Agra University. He worked as a lecturer in English in Ganj Dundwara P.G. College, Etah (U.P.) during 198889. Thereafter, he joined the Higher Education Department of Madhya Pradesh Government as an Assistant Professor in English and is serving in the same capacity in S.L.P. Government P.G. College, Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh). He has attended a number of National Research Seminars and published several research papers on Indian English novel. He has already accomplished one UGC sponsored minor research project and is working on another project funded by UGC.